Head & Neck Surgery
Advanced Surgical Care
Your voice, your smile, and your ability to eat and breathe comfortably are essential to your wellbeing. That’s why, at the Providence Swedish Cancer Institute, our expert surgeons use advanced techniques to treat head and neck cancer while preserving function and appearance. We focus on precision and personalized care — so you can get back to living life fully.
Our Approach
Every head or neck cancer is different, and so is every patient. We tailor our surgical approach to your specific needs, using the latest techniques to remove cancer while preserving your quality of life. Minimally invasive procedures may allow for faster recovery, while advanced reconstructive techniques help restore form and function when more complex surgery is needed.
Our team of highly skilled head and neck surgeons and reconstructive specialists works together to support you through treatment and recovery. If your surgery affects speech, swallowing, or breathing, we provide specialized therapy as part of our cancer rehabilitation program to help you adjust and regain function.
Beyond surgery, we offer comprehensive care, including scar management and reconstructive options, so you have the resources you need to heal and move forward. With expert care and a compassionate team by your side, you can feel confident knowing your treatment is designed with you in mind.
Advanced Head & Neck Surgery
We offer a range of leading-edge head and neck surgeries, as well as advanced techniques to support speech, swallowing, and reconstruction for optimal recovery. Surgical options include:
Other head & neck surgery options
Auriculectomy is a surgical procedure to remove part or all of the outer ear to treat cancer while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. When needed, you and your doctor can discuss reconstruction options to help restore appearance and function.
Central neck dissection removes lymph nodes and tissue from the area around the thyroid and windpipe. It’s often done to check for or treat the spread of cancer, especially thyroid cancer. The goal is to reduce the risk of recurrence while protecting nearby structures like nerves and glands. This procedure is typically done along with thyroid surgery.
Composite resection of mandible removes part of the jawbone along with surrounding tissues to ensure the tumor is removed completely. Depending on the extent of the procedure, reconstruction may be used to restore function and appearance. Your care team will work with you to create a personalized plan that supports healing, speech, and eating.
Cricotracheal resection removes a narrowed or diseased segment where the voice box meets the windpipe. It’s used to treat severe airway scarring or, in some cases, early-stage cancer of the subglottis or upper trachea. After removing the affected area, the airway is reconstructed to restore breathing. This procedure helps relieve symptoms and, when cancer is involved, can support long-term control of the cancer.
Endoscopic medial maxillectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that removes tumors from the nasal cavity or sinuses while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. Using an endoscope, surgeons access the affected area through the nostrils, avoiding external incisions. This approach helps reduce your discomfort and recovery time.
Excision is a surgical procedure to remove skin cancer along with a margin of healthy tissue to help ensure all cancerous cells are removed. For early-stage or low-risk cancers, a simple excision removes the lesion with minimal impact on the surrounding skin. For more advanced or high-risk cases, such as melanoma, a wide excision removes a larger area to reduce the risk of recurrence. Both effectively treat cancer while preserving as much healthy skin and function as possible.
Excision of the submandibular gland removes the submandibular gland, located beneath the jaw. Your surgeon carefully removes the gland while protecting nearby nerves to preserve speech, swallowing, and facial movement. This approach helps ensure effective treatment while supporting your comfort and recovery.
Free tissue transfer uses tissue from another part of the body — such as the forearm, thigh, fibula, or scapula — to rebuild areas affected by cancer surgery or trauma. It’s often part of head and neck reconstruction as it helps restore both appearance and function. This advanced technique supports healing, preserves facial structure, and can improve speech, swallowing, and overall quality of life.
What to Expect
At the Providence Swedish Cancer Institute, your care team is with you from diagnosis through treatment, recovery, and survivorship. We combine advanced therapies with personalized care, ensuring you receive leading clinical expertise and the compassionate support you can always rely on, including a trusted, personal relationship with your physician. Learn what to expect during each phase of care.
About a week before surgery, we'll schedule a pre-admission visit to:
- Assist with any remaining pre-surgical lab work or tests
- Review what will happen during your surgery
- Explain potential side effects
- Discuss medications and post-surgery care, including in-home help or equipment if needed
You'll receive information to prepare for your hospital admission. If you have any questions after your pre-admission appointment, you can reach out to your nurse or care coordinator, who will be happy to help.
On the day of your surgery, you will meet with an anesthesiologist, who confirms details of your medical record, clarifies any questions about your medical history, and performs a physical exam.
During this time, you can discuss the plan for your care, express any concerns about potential side effects, and ask any questions that you have about the anesthesia.
The specifics of your surgery are determined by your surgery type and individual needs, but one factor is always consistent – you’re being treated by an expertly trained team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, surgical nurses, and technicians.
The length of your surgery depends on several factors, including the type of procedure, whether reconstruction is being done, and the complexity of the procedure. The care team will inform your loved ones of your progress and provide updates during surgery.
Following surgery, you’ll be moved to recovery where your care team can monitor your vital signs and manage your pain as the anesthesia wears off.
Postoperative care instructions will be provided before being discharged. Instructions could include information about wound care, activity restrictions, and pain management.
For more extensive surgeries, you may be required to stay overnight, or longer, to ensure proper recovery.
Typically, you'll have follow-up appointments after surgery for the first few weeks. This is to monitor your healing and effectively manage the potential for complications. Your follow-up appointment schedule will depend on the type of surgery you have.
As time goes on, we'll see you less frequently, but you'll still come in for regular checkups. During these visits, we manage any ongoing treatments, such as medical or radiation oncology, and monitor for signs of recurrence.
We also offer extensive supportive care services to help you through every treatment stage.
Learn more about our supportive care services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Surgery may be all that your care plan requires if your cancer was diagnosed in its early stages and hasn’t spread to other parts of the body.
However, surgery can be accompanied by medical oncology treatment such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy to meet your specific needs and give you the highest likelihood of a successful outcome.
Radiation may also be recommended to help shrink tumors prior to surgery or following surgery to decrease the chance of recurrence.
Your recovery time depends on which type of surgery you have.
You may be in the hospital for one or two days following your surgery, although some procedures are done on an outpatient basis. Some patients can return to their regular activities within a few weeks, while others may take longer.
Before surgery, your care team will walk you through what to expect and provide a detailed recovery plan. This includes guidance for managing pain, any activity restrictions, and information about follow-up visits — so you can make arrangements and feel confident going into surgery.
Most head and neck surgeries leave a scar, but our surgical team takes great care to minimize its appearance whenever possible. The size and visibility of the scar will depend on factors such as the location of the surgery, the extent of tissue removal, and how your body heals.
For smaller procedures, scars may be subtle and fade over time. For more complex surgeries, especially those involving reconstruction, scarring may be more noticeable. Our surgeons use advanced techniques, including precise incision placement, to help reduce visible scarring and preserve function.
Yes. Our expert surgical team offers a range of reconstructive options to help restore appearance and function after head and neck cancer surgery. Your cancer surgeon will work closely with a reconstructive specialist to plan the best approach based on your diagnosis, treatment plan, and personal goals. In many cases, reconstruction can be performed during the initial surgery for the best possible outcome.
Surgery on the head or neck can sometimes change how you look, but the extent depends on where the cancer is and how much tissue needs to be removed. For some, the changes may be small, while for others — especially if the jaw, nose, or other facial structures are involved — there may be more noticeable differences.
Our surgical team carefully plans every procedure to protect your natural appearance as much as possible while making sure you get the best treatment. If we expect changes, we’ll explore options like reconstruction or rehabilitation to help you feel comfortable in your recovery.
Your ability to speak, swallow, or breathe after surgery depends on where the cancer is and how much tissue needs to be removed. For smaller procedures, you may not notice any changes. But for surgeries involving the throat, vocal cords, or airway, there may be temporary or lasting effects.
If your surgery is expected to impact these functions, your care team will talk through what to expect, and if needed, help you adjust with cancer rehabilitation, including speech and swallowing therapy, reconstructive options, or assistive devices.
Treatment timelines vary depending on your diagnosis. Some surgical procedures are done on an outpatient basis. More complex cases may require a hospital stay.
Medical oncology and radiation treatments typically involve multiple treatment sessions over a period of days or weeks. Treatment timelines vary depending on the type and stage of your cancer. Your care team reviews your treatment plan with you, as well as any options that may impact length, frequency and duration of treatment.
Following active treatment, you will see your physician periodically to monitor any signs of recurrence.
We provide a full range of supportive care services to support you during and after your cancer treatment. Some of these services include:
- Art therapists
- Cancer rehabilitation (onco-physiatry)
- Care coordinators
- Genetic counseling (cancer geneticist)
- Health educators
- Medical massage (edema, lymphedema management)
- Music therapist
- Naturopaths
- Nutritionists
- Oncology nurses
- Social workers
- Speech and language pathology
We can also help with finances, food, transportation, and other challenges for eligible patients through our patient assistance fund.
See the full list of supportive care services.
Note: Some services are provided by local partners and vary based on location. Please contact your clinic for more information.
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